The alimentary canal has been rightly termed the human fire-box. It is
there that the energy is created which runs the human machine.
The importance of cleanliness in this part of the physical organism
cannot be too greatly emphasized. Nearly all diseases have their
beginning in the stomach or some other part of the alimentary canal.
Defective digestion and imperfect assimilation represent the beginning
of many incurable and deadly diseases.
In seeking methods for building unusual vigor and vitality, one of the
first requirements is definite information on the care of the
alimentary canal. Mere regularity of the bowels does not in all cases
indicate a healthy condition of the stomach and bowels. A movement in
order to be of the right sort should be so thorough that it leaves one
with a feeling of emptiness and cleanliness. In other words, you should
feel that the colon has been evacuated thoroughly. Many who have
regular bowel movements do not have this satisfying sensation
afterwards. When the movement is satisfactory in every way little or
no straining is necessary. The colon simply empties itself
thoroughly, and the evacuation is then complete. However, few have
movements of the bowels that are satisfactory to this extent. There
should be at least one bowel movement of this kind each day. Two
movements of this character would be better, but one is sufficient if
thorough.
Do not acquire the idea that the bowels must move at a certain time each
day with unintermitted regularity, for they are subject to the same
extent as the appetite to what might be termed idiosyncrasies, according
to environment and other influences. For instance, you are not always
hungry at meal-time. Occasionally you eat very little or skip one or
more meals, and it would be a serious mistake to goad your appetite
with some stimulant or to eat a meal without an appetite. One can hardly
say that to force a bowel movement when its necessity is not
naturally indicated is as harmful as to eat a meal when it is not
craved, but unquestionably it is of advantage to have the bowels move
of their own accord, as the result of a natural impulse. Movements
that do not come through the call of an instinct for relief are rarely
satisfactory, and, though we strongly emphasize the necessity of
regularity of the bowels, it is not absolutely necessary that this call
should come at a certain time during each day; and though it is
undoubtedly of some advantage if such is the case, yet so long as there
is one evacuation each day of the satisfactory sort described, you can
be assured that your alimentary canal is in a normal and healthy
condition.
However, should the bowels fail to move at the regular time this need
not cause concern if you are feeling "up to the mark," and there are
no other symptoms that would indicate possible trouble. I mention this
alimentary peculiarity to enable my readers to avoid the slavish idea
that it is impossible to be in health unless the bowels move at certain
times with clock-like regularity.
Naturally when the contents of the alimentary canal are allowed to
accumulate for a considerable period and there is sluggishness
throughout the various parts of the small and large intestines, poisons
of all kinds are generated and absorbed into the circulation, thus
creating conditions ranging all the way from a feeling of lethargy to a
condition of weakness and disease that confines one to an invalid's bed.
Regardless of the attention that you may give to the other information
in this book, it is extremely important that you should realize the
necessity for active elimination.
It is necessary in the maintenance of alimentary health to avoid a
slavish adherence to the theory of definitely regular movements of the
bowels and still not to make the mistake of allowing them to become
chronically sluggish or irregular. As a rule you should depend upon
having regular movements each day, though if occasionally a day is
missed you should not allow this deviation to worry you.
Recognizing as I do the great importance of a healthy alimentary canal I
have given a vast amount of attention to the various methods which have
been suggested from time to time by students of natural healing for
assisting to regulate the functional processes of this important part of
our organism. The flushing of the lower bowel for instance has been
widely recommended, and it is unquestionably of value in some cases.
However, it cleanses only the lower part of the alimentary canal, that
is to say, the colon. It assists the small intestines no doubt by
giving their contents free access to the colon, but yet this aid cannot
directly affect them. If you have in view the cleansing of the
entire alimentary canal from stomach to rectum, the enema is often of
indifferent value. The use of various laxative foods can be recommended
in most instances, though even these sometimes fail to bring about
satisfying results, and then again there are cases where they provide a
remedy for only a short period, after which the bowels resume their old
state of chronic torpidity. Naturally we cannot consider cathartics of
any kind, notwithstanding their power to produce temporary results. In
all cases the after effects of their use are seriously destructive
to the delicate nerves controlling the alimentary canal and its
functions in general. Cathartics invariably make the real condition more
obstinate and serious.
It is well to remember that the real cause of constipation in virtually
every instance, is the want of vital vigor of the structures and tissues
involved. Digestion, though to a certain extent a chemical process, is
very largely mechanical. The muscles of the stomach "churn" the food in
the beginning of the digestive process, after which the circulatory
muscle fibers of the small intestines continue the work. If these
muscles are lacking in tone, if they are relaxed, prolapsed and weak,
then they cannot properly perform their functions. In attempting to
strengthen this important part of the bodily organism the
necessity for increasing the vigor of the muscular tissues must
invariably be definitely recognized. Strong muscles for carrying on the
work required of these blood-making organs are of far more importance
than strength of the external muscles. For this reason when the system
is toned up by any means a beneficial change in the alimentary functions
and excretions will always be noted.
During a careful study extending over at least a quarter of a century of
all health-building methods, I have acquainted myself with numerous
theories and remedies which have been applied in accelerating alimentary
activity. I am, in this chapter, presenting a new system or combination
of means for strengthening and stimulating the alimentary functions
which experience has proved to be of extraordinary value. This method
has the advantage of directly affecting the organs involved, and results
can be obtained speedily in virtually every instance.
This system of alimentary stimulation can be roughly described as a
combination of hot-water-drinking and a nerve-center-stimulating
process. The best time for giving this method a thorough trial is
immediately upon arising in the morning. It should not be attempted at
any other time of the day, for it is especially important that the
stomach should be free of any recently ingested food.
All that is required to carry out this treatment is one or two quarts of
boiling water, a minute quantity of salt, and a cup that will hold from
one-half a pint to one pint of water. The second phase of this treatment
is exercise and comprises the series of movements illustrated in this
work. Wherever possible these nerve-stimulating exercises should be
taken out-of-doors or before an open window. If the weather is cold,
you should wear enough clothing to maintain a satisfactory degree of
warmth; if the weather is warm, the less clothing worn the better. If
the skin is especially inactive, or if it is suffering from a disease in
which the eliminating process ordinarily accelerated by a Russian or
Turkish bath is of value, then wear heavy warm clothing while taking the
treatment. A thick sweater is advantageous under such circumstances. A
profuse perspiration will result, indicating a purifying process that is
of special value when the system needs to be cleansed of the
accumulated poisons which are the direct cause of nearly all diseases.
If you are capable of taking about two quarts of water in the course of
the exercise then each cup should contain nearly a pint, but if you
cannot drink over one quart each cup should contain not more than half a
pint.
Before beginning the nerve-stimulating exercise drink the first cup of
hot water, putting a pinch of salt in the bottom of the cup to take
away the flat taste of the hot water. Pour the cup half full of boiling
water and then add cold water until it is sufficiently cool to be
rapidly swallowed. Drink the water as hot as possible without sipping
it. Now take exercises 11, 12 and 14. Continue each one of these
movements until a feeling of fatigue is noticed, after which you are
ready for a second cup of hot water.
Don't hurry. Don't continue any movement to exhaustion, though a feeling
of local fatigue in the particular muscles concerned is desirable. This
feeling, however, should entirely disappear after a rest of one or two
minutes.
After the second cup of hot water you are ready for exercises 13, 7 and
8, whereupon you may take a third cup of hot water. You may then take
exercises 15, 16 and 9, followed by another cup of hot water, and then
exercises 17, 6 and 10, and so on. While this is suggested as a
general plan, it is not imperative that this order be followed strictly,
for your individual requirements might be better suited by minor
variations; for instance, by two or four exercises between the
intervals of hot-water-drinking.
If you find your capacity is unequal to the quantity of hot water
suggested, then simply take as much as you can without
inconvenience or discomfort. Each day, however, while following this
method you will find your hot-water-drinking capacity will increase,
though as a rule, a person of average weight and height can take
from one to two quarts without serious inconvenience. The hot-water-
drinking together with the exercise will naturally very greatly
increase the pulse, and where there is heart disease or any weakness of
the heart this treatment must be taken with unusual care. In
virtually every case this method will materially increase the strength
of a weak heart, though there is naturally the possibility of strain,
and the treatment should be adapted to your strength in the beginning
and very gradually increased week by week.
Temporary attacks of constipation, where severe enough to need
attention, can usually be ready for exercises 13, 7 and 8, whereupon you
may take a third cup of hot water. You may then take exercises 15, 16
and 9, followed by another cup of hot water, and then exercises 17, 6
and 10, and so on.
While this is suggested as a general plan, it is not imperative that
this order be followed strictly, for your individual requirements might
be better suited by minor variations; for instance, by two or four
exercises between the intervals of hot-water-drinking.
Temporary attacks of constipation, where severe enough to need
attention, can usually be quickly remedied by this hot-water-
drinking, nerve-stimulating method. Usually, if there is need for a
movement of the bowels an instinctive and compelling desire will appear
while taking the treatment or very shortly thereafter. If, however,
you feel there is a necessity for such a movement and it does not
appear, you can rest assured that the treatment has brought about
sufficient benefit to excite the activity of the organs involved and
that the desire will come later. In some very obstinate cases of
constipation, or in serious temporary attacks of this difficulty, where
a movement of the bowels is desired quickly, from one-quarter to
one-half a level teaspoonful of salt can be added to each cup of hot
water. This will in nearly all cases insure a speedy and satisfactory
bowel movement. This, however, is not advised unless absolutely
necessary.
It is well to point out that this treatment in its extreme form can
hardly be used with complete satisfaction by those who are below
average strength. In any case, however, the drinking of a small amount
of hot water can be attempted and the exercises illustrated can be used,
if one is careful not to make his efforts too severe. The hot-water-
drinking process as well as the exercise must, however, be
adapted to the requirements of each individual, and it may be well in
most cases to experiment two or three times before following all of
these suggestions in detail.
Where one is lacking in vital strength a beginning can be made by taking
only two cups of hot water, using exercises 7, 8 and 9, which can be
taken in a reclining position.
One may continue in this way for a week or two, after which a third cup
of hot water might be added. In this way one can gradually increase the
amount of water consumed and the vigor and the amount of the exercise
taken.
Where there is a tendency toward rheumatism, gout, neuritis, neuralgia,
or where there are any other symptoms indicating the accumulation of
poisons or impurities in the system, it is advisable to use distilled
water, though if this cannot be secured ordinary boiled water will
be satisfactory. At least be sure to boil your water before using if it
is heavily charged with mineral matter, since boiling tends to
precipitate lime salts. In other words, hard water is not desirable in
such cases.
The hot-water-drinking regimen in itself has a decidedly beneficial
effect upon the stomach and intestines. But much better results,
especially in the case of constipation, are secured when the special
nerve-stimulating exercises recommended are taken in connection with
it. By this combination we obtain results that cannot be secured in
any other way. In fact, stiffness, soreness and rheumatic "twinges" in
various parts of the body are often removed with astounding rapidity
through the help of this particular treatment. The cleansing and
eliminating functions are stimulated to an extraordinary extent by
combining these two blood-purifying forces: hot-water-drinking and the
stimulation of the nerve centers.
This regimen is also a splendid means of increasing the weight in cases
of defective assimilation. It seems to tone up the entire vital and
functional system, in addition to directly influencing the digestive
organs. The hot water alone tends to cleanse and empty very thoroughly
the stomach and intestines, also to stimulate the secretion of the
digestive juices. Those who are below normal weight chiefly because
of poor assimilative powers are especially advised to give this method
a thorough trial for a period of a few weeks.
Again, if your complexion is sallow, dull, and "muddy," a remarkable
improvement will speedily appear as a result of this treatment. In a
recent case I observed a surprising change at the end of one week in a
complexion that had been sallow and lifeless. The complexion in this
instance not only assumed an improved color, but the tissues of the face
were also filled out considerably, and when improvement is thus
manifested on the surface you can well realize that the internal
changes are even more pronounced.
The devitalized condition of the various glands and structures in this
part of the body is gradually remedied by the improvement in
the circulation that comes with what might be termed a stimulating
supply of liquids, and the same good result is accomplished, so far
as the general circulation is concerned, in the welfare of the body as
a whole. Those suffering from high blood pressure will find this
treatment of unusual value, though great care should, of course, be
taken to avoid any movements that are in any way exhausting or violent.
When the blood is in a thick or viscous condition the use of the hot
water adds to its fluidity, and it can then be forced more easily
through the capillaries, thus greatly lessening the blood pressure. It
is well known that a low blood pressure is conducive to endurance and to
general health. And when these exercises especially advised for
stimulating the nerve centers and for strengthening and vitalizing the
spine are combined with a liberal use of hot water, the blood is forced
through all the tissues, with the general effect of thoroughly
cleansing all parts, in addition to immediately cleansing the
alimentary canal.
It is customary among athletes to use massage, or what is commonly
called a "rub down," following their exercise. The purpose of this
is to increase the circulation and thereby to carry out of the muscles
the fatigue-poisons that have accumulated therein during the exercise.
Now if a large amount of hot water is used in connection with movements
such as we are illustrating, this purpose will be even more
thoroughly accomplished during the exercise itself, as the muscular and
other tissues are virtually flushed out owing to the more fluid
character of the blood and its more ready and perfect circulation
through all parts. One who feels stiff from severe exercise, or finds
his tissues sore for other reasons, should be able to overcome this
stiffness and gain a sense of refreshment through this method.
Referring to the subject of elimination in the case of fatigue, I might
say that some students have ascribed the feeling of fatigue at the end
of the day's work to an accumulation of deposits within the walls of the
arteries and veins, which deposits are ordinarily carried off during
sleep. If this theory is true I can think of no simpler or more
satisfactory method of removing this waste matter in the blood-vessels
than this system of flushing them. For producing immediate results of
any kind there is no other method so far as I know which is so effective
as this if one has sufficient strength properly to use it. I have known
cases in which a headache has been cured in a few minutes by sprinting
or other violent exercise, and cases in which neuralgic toothaches and
other pains have yielded to vigorous exercise continued for a prolonged
period. I have also known the same relief to be obtained by drinking a
liberal quantity of hot water, but in all such instances results
would be more quickly and certainly secured through a combination of
these stimulating forces.
To repeat for clearness and emphasis, the method outlined consists of
the following:
A combination of hot-water-drinking and specially adapted movements for
stimulating the nerve centers.
Half a pint to a pint of hot water-as hot as can be drunk-to be taken on
beginning the treatment immediately on arising in the morning. An
additional quantity of hot water to be taken each five to ten minutes
thereafter until from one to two quarts have been consumed.
A large amount of clothing to be worn if profuse perspiration is
desired, though where an increase of weight is of advantage and no
actual disease exists in the system, no more clothing should be worn
than is necessary to maintain warmth.
When a bowel movement is definitely needed, a complete and perfectly
satisfactory evacuation is often brought about while taking this
treatment. The cleansing process, however, will result in a clearer
brain and an improved physical as well as mental capacity, whether or
not the bowels act immediately, and one can nearly always depend upon
a satisfactory movement later.
When there is suffering from temporary attacks of constipation and
immediate relief is desired, add from one-quarter to one-half a
level teaspoonful of salt to each cup of hot water. Speedy results can
be depended upon in virtually every case. Another method of
accomplishing the same thing is to continue the hot-water-drinking even
beyond the two quarts suggested, adding no more than a small pinch of
salt to each cup, as previously suggested. No harm will come from this
excessive water-drinking if one is possessed of a normal amount of
vigor.
If one is athletic, jumping one to two hundred times, as when jumping a
rope, just previous to moving the bowels is often of value in inducing a
natural desire that in nearly all cases brings satisfactory results.
Where it is difficult to take the amount of water prescribed, take as
much as you conveniently can, gradually increasing the quantity each
day.
This hot-water-drinking regimen is not necessarily recommended as a
permanent measure to be continued every day for an indefinite period.
When you feel that your physical status is satisfactory in every way,
you can drop the method for a few days, after which it can be
resumed as desired, though it would be of advantage to continue taking
the exercises each day, and if even one or two glasses of hot water
are taken beneficial results would accrue.